Conscious Cravings Co

The Details

Conscious Cravings Co, owner and operator, Darelle Menzies, fondly known as Dee, started making raw treats in her kitchen in 2015. Frustrated with the lack of options for vegans that were also Gluten Intolerant and FODMAP friendly. Her wholesale business, Conscious Cravings, was going gangbusters and she needed more space. Dee, found a production space and kitchen in 2016 in the Mount Eliza area. She decided to throw in a coffee machine and it grew from there!

Now, you can enjoy Conscious Cravings treats, Smoothies, Bowls, Wraps and Toast. Everything is Vegan, Gluten Free and mostly FODMAP friendly. FODMAP referring to Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols (science words) can be tricky but at Conscious Cravings, they measure the ingredients carefully, right down to the amount of beans in a falafel ball.

Dee was vegetarian as a child and after learning from customers and watching documentaries, she made the switch to a vegan diet. Chef Kate who runs the kitchen was found via word of mouth and is creating some delicious meals in the Conscious Cravings Co Kitchen.

There are plans for Conscious Cravings to expand soon, a second store to open further inwards towards the city but still Bayside. They intend to keep the same mantra as they have in their original store, including keeping the compostable takeaway coffee cups and ensuring all green waste is also composted.

The Food

In February Conscious Cravings cut out dairy milk. Some customers dropped off, but a lot were open to changing to plant-based milk for coffee. The most popular of the plant based milks is the house-made almond milk. Most dairy drinkers ask for the Rebel Mylk brand. Cashew milk and a cashew/almond blend is also available.

The most popular items on the menu are the veggie wraps, rice paper rolls and French toast. Belief us when we say, the French Toast is worth driving for. The gluten free bread is thick and white, you would hardly notice the difference from regular bread.

They also do a Vegan Eggs and Bacon, which is a scrambled tofu with spinach and fried off tempeh bacon that is smokey and crispy.